Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I welcome former Senator Kathleen O'Meara and the representatives from the Irish Cancer Society and I look forward to the coming debate.

I have a very serious question for the Leader. It relates to the reconfiguration of hospital services in the south east, in particular the hospital in Clonmel. Recently it was announced that 49 acute beds in the psychiatric unit were to be closed. These beds are factored into the general hospital complement and therefore this action will have a major impact on the reconfiguration of services which is under way. My concern is that the decision which was announced seems to have been made outside the knowledge of both the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy Moloney, who kindly attended this House for an Adjournment debate on the matter. I am concerned that there are people within the HSE making serious decisions which will have a major impact although they have not been costed. We talk about money and fiscal responsibility and this would seem to be related but no costings were made with regard to this decision.

I would like the Minister for Health, Deputy Harney, to come to the House and take part in a serious debate about the processes taking place. Who informs the Minister and Minister of State? How many times and by whom are they informed in respect of decisions announced by the HSE? Where is the disconnect occurring? A Minister asks for more time to consider proposals but then a decision is announced. Mine is a serious request and I wish serious consideration to be given to it.